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Attachment style, excessive reassurance seeking, relationship processes, and depression
Phillip R Shaver1, Dory A Schachner, Mario Mikulincer
1Department of Psychology, University of California, Davis 95616-8686, USA. prshaver@ucdavis.edu
Personality & Social Psychology Bulletin
|January 20, 2005
Summary
Excessive reassurance seeking (ERS) in relationships is linked to depression, primarily due to attachment anxiety, not relationship quality. These findings highlight the intrapsychic origins of depression in young couples.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Clinical Psychology
- Social Psychology
Background:
- Excessive reassurance seeking (ERS) is a behavior observed in relationships.
- Attachment theory provides a framework for understanding relationship dynamics.
- The link between ERS, attachment, and depression requires further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the association between ERS and depression in couple relationships.
- To investigate the mediating role of attachment anxiety in the ERS-depression link.
- To explore the influence of relationship quality on these associations.
Main Methods:
- Two studies were conducted with couples (N=72 and N=61).
- Participants completed questionnaires assessing ERS, depression, attachment style, and relationship quality.
- Study 2 included daily diary assessments over 14 days.
Main Results:
- ERS was associated with depression, but this link was explained by attachment anxiety.
- Relationship quality was not a mediator between attachment anxiety and depression.
- Relationship quality was primarily associated with avoidant attachment.
Conclusions:
- Depression in young, unmarried couples is linked to attachment anxiety and ERS.
- The association appears to be driven by intrapsychic factors rather than relationship quality.
- Findings were consistent across couple and daily-level analyses.